Painting by local artist to boost funds for bowel cancer memory ride
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A painting inspired through training for a 20-mile ride from Loch More is to be raffled off to help raise money in memory of a lady who lost her life to advanced bowel cancer last year.
The ride was organised by Cath Whittles, of Latheronwheel, as a tribute to her friend Aileen Campbell who sadly passed away at the end of August 2020, just three weeks after her 60th birthday.
Joining Cath on the trek from Loch More to the Glutt Lodge and back was Aileen's daughter Sharon Hepburn from the Inverness area, and local artist Jane McDonough who donated the painting – Where memories echo on the wind.
Already the trio have raised over £2760 for Bowel Cancer UK with donations still being taken on the JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/memoryride2021
Cath and Jane took part in fitness training for the trek throughout April, Bowel Cancer Awareness month, and that's when inspiration for the painting took hold. It is hoped that the 100cm by 50cm acrylic painting on box canvas will help boost funds through an online raffle which will run until Sunday (May 16) when a random number will be chosen. Raffles can be purchased at – http://www.facebook.com/landhallowcrafts/
Jane said: "Cath and I rode a few times from Loch More and also we rode from Loch Shurrery to Loch Tuim Ghlais where the Caithness scenery was vast and very inspiring. All proceeds are going towards Cath's Memory Ride fundraiser for Bowel Cancer. I've sold 250 numbers so far and am delighted to have raised such an amount to add to the fundraising. Hopefully there will be a few more sales before next Sunday."
On the ride, which took place on Sunday, May 2, Cath rode her own piebald mini-cob Dolly, while Jane partnered her black bullet, Fudge, a Welsh section D mare, and Sharon rode her Clydesdale, Hamish.
Cath and Aileen became friends after meeting on the Bowel Cancer UK Forum. Aileen loved Dolly, who she got to meet during a visit to Caithness and enjoyed getting updates about her antics.
Commenting after the ride Cath said: "Thank you all so much everyone who has supported us with so many kind words and very generous donations. We do not have the words to thank you enough.
"The six of us had a wonderful time on the Memory Ride which was a true adventure. The horses were super stars and the riders were not that bad either and although we could see showers falling elsewhere in the wide skies that surrounded us, none fell on us."
"The landscape through which we were riding is so spectacular and all very different for Hamish and Sharon compared to what they are
accustomed to around Inverness."
Hamish, who looked huge next to Dolly, took everything in his very big stride except for a close encounter with a lamb which got separated from its mum. The Clydesdale was not impressed with the tiny creature running through his legs, however no harm was done.
"We had plenty of time to think about and remember Aileen. Sharon told us how special it was to do the ride on Hamish whom she and Aileen had bred from beautiful Rose – their first Clydesdale whom Aileen had purchased herself because she simply fell in love with the horse.
"Aileen was the first human that Hamish saw just two hours after his birth and even then, he whinnied to her. They had a special bond from that day onwards."
By doing the ride Cath, who has taken part in fundraisers before, also wanted to raise awareness of bowel cancer. She said: "About half the population do not know any of the symptoms – it is the second highest cancer killer in the UK, it is quite frightening. Also it appears to be increasingly affecting younger people."
She added: "The forum run by the charity is literally a life saver for many bowel cancer patients and a very supportive place where people share experiences and knowledge, friendship and love.
"The charity is at the fore front of all aspects of this disease from supporting patients to cutting edge research and is a truly wonderful cause."
If you are worried at any time about symptoms, please go to your GP and get checked out.
Symptoms of bowel cancer may include:
- Persistent change in bowel habit lasting more than three weeks.
- Fresh bleeding or dark coloured stools.
- Persistent episodes of alternating constipation and diarrhoea.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Tiredness and fatigue.
- Abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating, particularly after eating.
